D'Angelo's Italian Deli serving up old-world, East Coast sandwiches

New family-run shop opened two months ago

Alisa Garry, right, works with her mother, Kathy D'Angelo, and Tamara Kaczmarek, making subs at D'Angelo's Italian Deli in Boulder on Friday.
(
CLIFF GRASSMICK
)

At the newly opened D'Angelo's Italian Deli in Boulder, the best-selling sandwich should come as little surprise: Grandma Dot's Meatball Parmiagiana.

"Everyone loves a good meatball," said proprietor Kathy D'Angelo, who opened the shop with her daughters two months ago at 3325 28th St., just north of the Safeway in north Boulder.

The heart of the sandwich is a recipe passed down to D'Angelo from her now 84-year-old mother-in-law, who was given the recipe by her Sicilian mother-in-law.

The sandwich seems to epitomize the new deli, which aims to bring together classic, homemade Italian recipes with a little history, community and East Coast flair.

"Food is kind of like a centerpiece for the family," D'Angelo said. "It brings everyone together."

Family is what drove D'Angelo and her husband to leave Philadelphia for Colorado five years ago. Their daughters stayed in Boulder after attending college here.

For three years, D'Angelo ran the Bungalow Coffeehouse in Windsor, but long had eyed teaming up with her daughters, both of whom had culinary experience, on something close to their hearts.

Last summer, D'Angelo sold the Bungalow, moved to Boulder and started talking with the owner of predecessor Boulder Subs. By the fall, a deal was inked and she and her two daughters -- Alisa Garry, 34, and Guistina D'Angelo, 27 -- moved forward on outfitting their family deli.

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The décor consists of scenic pictures of Philadelphia, street signs boasting the names of the roads on which the D'Angelo crew grew up, a menu teeming with food named after the city's boroughs and a poster of Philly's favorite fictional son: Rocky Balboa.

Several customers have hailed from the East Coast or have grown up with the Italian recipes.

"It's just a fun exchange ... to have a place that reminds them of home."

Those conversations typically include memories of certain recipes, which in turn have spurred ideas for potential new menu items. One Italian staple, a sausage and peppers sandwich, is in the works, D'Angelo said.

"We've gotten flak about (its absence)," she said.

In the coming weeks, the trio also have plans to establish in-house baking and develop a catering business for offices and parties.

Most importantly, daughter Alisa Garry said, the family wants to build a community.

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